Process of extracting sugar.



No. 746,734. Y 1 ATENTBD DB0.15,1903.

L. NAUDBT.

PROCESS 0F BXTRAGTING SUGAR.'

APPLIATION vFILED APR.11, 1903.

ATTORNEY me nofws PETERS co, Pwn'r-Lrmo.. WASHINGTON, u c.

Patented December 1,5, `1903.

e oN- ivnuonfr@ on PARIS, FR'An-Mon..y

'f 'panier-:ssoFgEx'rnACTlNc SUGAR.

srncrrcetiiotrfermingpage priesters raten@ Ne.f746,734,iatea December 15, 190s.

- Application iiled Aprillll 1903.

To otZZ whom it mai/concern: Be it known ythat I, LEON NAUDET, a citizen of the Republic of` France, residing at Paris, France, have invented certain new'and'ns'eful" Improvements in Processes 'of 'E'z'ztracting'the Sugar Constituent from Saccharine Bodies,o f which the following is a.k specification? 't A4My invention relatest'o'a process for 'extracting the sugar lconstituent from the di' vided portions of the sugar-beet, sugar-cane;

, or other sugaribearing bodies.

The `object ofv my invention 1s to obtain an increased yieldof sugar from the sugar-bean* ing ibody and7 the productionv of aclear highgrade sugafrjuice of uniform density;y

InUnited States Letters Patent No. 7 28,600, I granted tov me on May 19, 1903, for aprocessl of extracting sugar constituentsl have de-y scribeda step in such process which consists improved process or mode-of operation elimi in heating the fresh Inaterial'introduced into the cold cell of `the, batterytoa tempera# ture oit' approximately 77 ceptigrade--fzllef," the temperature ofl the juice traversing the" "other cells of the battery '-b'efo`re connecting such cold cell in series 'inlthe circulation of the other cells of the battery. i This step ma# terially improved the operation 'of the battery, but was open to eertainobjections; A"My of richness or densitydischarged into'the re-f ceiving lorv measuring vessel. [Asf a conse'-i quence, 'thev receiving or measuring vessel was filled with sugar-juice' in layersofdifferent specic gravity, whileth'e essential re' quirement is a sugar-j uice of uniform density.- V,

' Second. In heating the material in the cold cell the su gar-juice used for the purpose trav# ersed two heaters and had its temperature =SerialNo` 1521282. e specimens.)v

increasedby adelinite amount at each passage.` In the `'first passage of said heated juice ,through the material in the'cold cell it lost approximately half its heat, this heat being absorbed by the material, in the second passage lessthan a quarter of its heat, and inthe third 'passage' practically none of its heat, with the' result thatthe'sugar-juice is often raisedA to atemperaturein excess of that required to produce the best `results, 4and consequently ,to avoid this objection it was necessary to constantly manipulate the heaters in accordance with'the indications of a thermometer'to vobtainy a juice of uniform temperature, whichwas very diliicult in practice. This objection I have overcome bythe use of a compensating vessel.

5 Third. l" my former process the hot juice was introduced into the cold ejell and then immediately circulated. This operationdid not give suflicient time to'effect proper mashingel. e., 'satoration-W,ithA theresultant swelling oflfth'e material acted upon, and, further, it wasfoundithat mashng could best be obtained: bythe use Zot a lower temperature in the sugar-juice than was required in the circulationfor heating.4 i My improved process overcOmQs all the objections stated in ainannerjwhich will be described.

, Generally speaking, practice has demonstrated that in order toob'tain best results it is preferable, first, to lmash the cold material slowly by the introduction of j uice, preferably in an upward direction and at a temperature less than thatrfequired toqeiect osmosis; second,'to heat theinashed material by the forced circulation through it of juice `at a iixed temperature and preferably in a downward direction and of a density equal to or greater than 'that of' the' sugar liquor Vcontained in thecellules of thematerial acted on; third, to :cause the juice which is `transmitted throughthe cells'oflthe batteryoher than thoseundergoing nashing and heating to oi thehottestichest, andpurest juice from thel battery.

LTo carry my invention into elect, I may make use of the apparatus which I will now describe.`

Figure l is a plan view showing one-half move ataconstant velocity; fourth, to draw of a battery of twelve cells with compensat-` ing vessel, measuring vessels, heaters, pump, pipe circulation, and valves. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a digester with the pipes and valves in elevation. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionlthrough'the compensating vessel with the valves and pipes in elevation. Fig. 5 is a perspective view looking downward, showing the general relation of the controlling-valves.

Referring to the drawings, 5 5a 5b 5c 51 5k indicate the diffuser-cells. Any number of cells may constitute a battery. Usually from ten to twelve cells are employed. These cells are shown as arranged in successive order.

They vmay be arranged in any required orderas, for instance, in a circle, a square, or other- 1 Wise. VSituated in proximity to each cell is a heater 6. These heaters may be of any construction and heated by steam or otherwise.

Each of the diuser-cells 5 to 5k, inclusive, are assumed to contain a mass of divided material containing sugar constituents-as, for instance, slices of the sugar-beet, portions of the sugar-cane, or other sugar-bearing body. It will be understood that the cells 5 to 5k, inclusive, are adapted as the material within them is exhausted to be filled with fresh material in successive or other order, as desired, and that any one of these cells may be considered the last or cold cell of the series.

f A indicates a Water-tank from which hot water is fed by gravity through pipe Sand one of the branch pipes 9 into the top of the cell which at the time forms the tirstcell of the series of the battery; 10, controllingvalves in pipe 8; 11, pipe into which the sugar-juice is discharged after passing through the cells 5 to 5k, inclusive, and heaters 6; 12, branch pipes between heater 6 and pipe 11; 13,valvesin pipe 1l; 14:, communicating valve between valves 10 and 13. The operatingstem of this valve l5 is shown at right angles to the stems of the valves 10 and 13; 16, overflow or measuring tank, which is located in a plane above that occupied by the top of the digesters; 17, com pensating'vessel. This vessel is constructed as shown in Fig. 4. In the bottom of the vessel is arranged a perforated screen 18, and in the outlet-pipe 19 from the vessel is located a valve 20,which is controlled in its position by means of the float 21, as will be described. The outlet-pipe 19 is connected to the induction-orifice of a pump 22.

23 is a pipe connected at one end to the pipe 11, into which the juice is discharged by gravity from the last cell of the battery and at its other end to the bottom of the compensating Vessel 17 below the screen.

24.1E indicates a pipe leading from the bottom of the compensating vessel below the screen and connected to each of the digesters at a little above its medium line. Situated in this pipe is a main valve 25 and a valve 26 in front of each cell. Leading from the eduction-orice of thepump 22 is a pipe 27, which is carried through the heaters 6a.

28 indicates valves for controlling the circulation through' the heaters. Situated in pipe 27 and in front of each cell is a valve 29.

VVIt will be observed that the pipes 11 and 27 are inv'commun'icationwith the measuringtank 16, respectively, through the pipes 11a and 27. In the pipe l1a isa valve 30 and in the pipe 27a a vvalve 31.

32 represents a pipe through which steam or other heating fluid is introduced intothe heaters 6a; 33, a pipe introduced between the top of the compensating vessel 17 and the measuring-tank 16.

It will be observed on reference to Fig. 2 that the compensating tank 17 is so situated as regards the cells 5 to 5k, inclusive, that the level represented by the transverse line b will lie in the same plane as the top 'of the cells, and that consequently when the cells are filled with liquid the liquid Will rise to the level represented by' b in the compensating vessel unless drawn down below thatlevel by the action of the pump 22, aswill be described.

The fioat 21 in the compensating vessel serves to control the position of the valve 20,

and therefore to determine the level above which the valve may open and permit withdrawal of the sugar-juice within the tank under the action of the pump. The iioat is made adjustable in order that the Huid-level may be regulated at will.

The office of the pipe 24 is to introduce the heated sugar-juice into one or rmore of the cells directly from the compensating vessel without passing through the pump.` This is sometimes of advantage in treating cane-sugars. It may be entirely done away with, as it forms really no part of my improved process or method of operation.

I do not limit myself to the employment of the specific form of apparatus shown and described or tothe particular relation of the parts, as many changes can manifestly be made without involving change of method. v My improved mode of operation is as follows: Assumingfor the purposes of description thaty cells 5k, 5, and 5a have been cutout of the general circulation of the battery and that the cell 5b is for the time being the last cell in the battery and the extracted sugarjuice is being discharged .from the battery through that cellinto pipe 11 in the usual manner. At such time the cell 5k is being emptied preparatory to introducing fresh material,

the material in cell 5 is being mashed, and

that in cell 5fL is being heated. The mashing and heating are accomplished as follows: Valve 29 of cell 5a is opened. This permits the highly-heated sugar-j nice drawn from the compensating vessel 17 through the action of pump 22 to be discharged through pipe 9 onto the top ofthe material in cell 5a and to pass through the material in this cell and thence by heater 6 and pipe 12 to valve 13which at IDO .IIO

tained-within? lthe j'cella Accaszthe sugarzliqur entersf the cellrtheairfisdisplaced and `cell gradual-l-y l=led withliquid. "Whenathispoint: r is reached ,fthe o gliquid turns to the frightin pipe fll'and hjo'insthe circulation :from l'cell'l to 31-bexdisc'harged -partiallytfhrough 'pipe-23- into ,thecompensating: vvessel and :throughf pipefll-a into: the e hieasuringfvessel.: 1 '-At this.`

quantity toimake thedensityot* the liquid '-.slightlyz.greater-tbanl that ,of/ ther sugar con-- tai nedginithezcellules otrthe material-.acted on. t If the densityohthetwo ysolutionsffice., that of the juifceandl thatinfthe' cells-:is: the same, t no osmosis-Willi take..place-and.-theiosmoticv time the valve 34 in the pipe llt isope'n an the value1in-fthetpipei 27r-.zclosedr-w-s' In practice I preferto circulate thefheatedif sugar-juicegthroughthe cold cell, at the time being heated 'three'o'r more times. `Theoretically the quantity of juice wbichshould pass through the cell for heating: it must be equal in weight to threetimes the'weightof the material or, otherwise, three times half of the total capacity of the cell. When the heating of the cold cell 5a is finished, it is connected by a proper manipulation of valves in series with cells 5b 5 5d, &c., and its communication with the compensating tank l7 and pump 22 is cut off. The cell '5 is then cut into communication With the pump to be heated and the fresh material introduced into cell 5k mashed, .as described in relation to cell '6. Cell 55 (not shown) at that time is being filled with fresh material.

It will be observed from the description so far as given that thefeed of the sugar-'juice from the battery to the compensating tank is by gravity, that the pump exerts no suction action upon the last cell of the battery, but only a forcing action to drive a portion of the sugarjuice drawn from the compensating vessel down through the cell being heated and in communication with the pipe 27 and in an upward direction into the cell being mashed-as, for instance, 5a the cell being heated, 5 the cell being mashed. As a result of this there is no concentration of Vdense sugar-juice in the cell being heated, the mixing of the juice from this cell and that from the last cell of the battery in the compensating vessel serving to equalize the density, so that the juice llowing to the measurmg vessel is of uniform density and moves by reason of the constant' pressure from vWater-tank A at constant velocity; further,

that as the sugar-juice -iiows byV gravity to the compensator at all times thetcmperature of such juice in the condenser is maintained practically uniform, and consequently the juice drawn from the compensating device and sent to the heaters 6a is uniformly heated and delivered into the digester-at a uniform temperature, which, as before stated, is a point of ygreat practical importance.

A further step in my process, which I have heretofore not referred to, consists in aiding.

and maintaining the uniform density of the sugar-juice extracted through the instrumentality of the battery by providing for `extraction .at such time ofy thesu-gar constitu- *j nice-through the Icell .in fthewheatin g operacirculation in the batteryr Wasless rich'.` Th e astep which I noW employ consistsfiuf-introactions to extract the 'sugar will .be deferred in the circulation of the other cells as the last cell. This step I ud to be most advantageous, as the sugar-juice obtained through such last cell is in therighest possible condition and at the temperature which is desirable for further treatment.

Having thus described my invention, I claimy 1. Astep in the diffusion method described, which consists in heating acold body of sugarbearing material contained in a cell to apdensity slightly greater than that of the natural juice contained in the cellules of the material acted upon.

-2. vA step in the method described, which consists in introducing into a cold body of sugar-bearing material a sufficient body of sugar-juice to mash the material, and at a temperature less than that required'A to effect osmosis and extraction of the sugar constituent from the material.

A method of extracting the sugar constituent from saccharine bodies, which consists in first mashing cold material by means of a sugar-juice at a temperature less than that required to effect osmosis, then subjecting said mashed material to the action of a circulating body of hot sugar-'juice'until it is heated to approximately 7 7D centigrade, then coupling the cell-containing saidimashed and heated material in the circulation of the other it shall be the last cell of the series.

4. Aste p iu the dilusion method described, vwhich consists in causing a body of sugarjuice heated to a definite temperature to be moved forcibly through a body of sugar-bearfrom said cell by gravity to a ycompensating vessel from which it is again drawn and moved through said cell, until the temperature vof the' material in said cell has been raised to approximately 7 7 centigrade.

5. A method of extracting the sugar constituent from saccharine bodies contained in tion madetliezjzuice vryerch,-while 'the :j nice' .flowing .-fro'm such-fcell;When=cou1pledin' the untilthe'heatedcoldcell hasabeenzfconnected proximately 77 centigrade, by circulating through it a body of hot'sugar-juice of a` cells of the battery and -in such manner that ing material contained in a cell, and to pass :heating-the cold .-cell-'befo'reicoupling-it iny the circulation of the.fotlercells-withoutthe f 7ol lent ofthem'aterial containedlinthe-cell; In. 'my former processncirculationtof: .the hot. y

aducingintothe juice circulatingthroughthe t IOC v sists in mashing in one cell by means of juice heated to a temperature below that required to eiect osmosis, heating in a second cell by forcibly transmitting through said cell juice heated to a uniform temperature and having an equal or greater density than that of the natural juice contained in the cellules of the material acted upon, and at the same time drawing the sugar-j nice by gravity from said battery through the cell containing the material at the time richest in sugar constituent.

7. A step in the difusion method described, which consists in circulating a portion of the sugar-juice at a uniform temperature through material contained in one cell, and in mingling the rich juice derived from said cell with a portion of the less rich juice derived from the Whole battery in a compensating vessel, whereby equalization of the density of the juices is obtained.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEON NAUDET.

Witnesses:

EMILE SULICH, W. H. PUMPHREY. 

